Nikkyo Niwano

Nikkyo Niwano

Nikkyo Niwano (庭野日敬: Niwano Nikkyō) (1906–1999) was one of the founders and first president of the Buddhist organization, Risshō Kōsei Kai.

Nikkyo Niwano

Statue of Founder Niwano
Born November 15, 1906
Japan
Nationality Japanese
Occupation President of Rissho Kosei-kai
Known for Religious work, Founder of Rissho Kosei-kai
Title Great Teacher of the One Vehicle
Term March 5, 1939-November 15, 1991
Predecessor None, Office Created
Successor Rev. Nichiko Niwano
Religion Buddhist
Spouse Sai Niwnao

Contents

Early life

Born on November 15, 1906 to farmers, Nikkyo had a humble life in a small town. Later in his youth he moved to Tokyo to work and it was here that he began to study several different religions. During his studies he attended a sermon on the Lotus Sutra and he became a Buddhist. Daniel Montgomery quotes Dharma World,(December 1980,4):

"It was because of the guidance of my teacher Sukenobu Arai, that I became fond of the Sutra, threw myself into it, and made it part of me. Until then I had gone from one religion to another; each had its power to save, but they were like coarse nets through which many fish could slip. The ecstacy of discovering this made me want to shout and sing and dance for joy"[1]

Rissho Kosei-kai

Mr. Niwano had been actively involved with the Buddhist group Reiyukai, and it was then that he encountered Ms. Myoko Naganuma and lead her to convert to Reyukai. In 1938 they both attended a leaders meeting where the leadership of Reiyukai made several comments stating that the Lotus Sutra was outdated. After discussing this matter with each other, they decided that they could not belong to an organization which held this type of view.[2] On March 5, 1938 they founded Rissho Kosei-kai, holding the first meeting in Mr. Niwano's house.

Mr. Niwano was to be the President and Ms. Naganuma to be the vice-president. As the organization grew he gave up his job as a milk man and devoted himself full time to the ministry. He became involved in interfaith activities and helped to found the World Conference of Religions for Peace in 1970. During this time he became involved in numerous religious and cultural conferences and gathers, some of which include the Asian Conference on Religion and Peace and the 6th WCRP in Italy where he presided over the WCRP alongside Pope John Paul II.[3] He also spoke on several occasions as the United Nations calling for world peace and the abolition of nuclear arms.

In 1991 he stepped down as president and was succeeded by his eldest son, Nichiko Niwano. Although retired, he continued to participate in interfaith and peace activities. He died on October 4, 1999.

Awards

In 1979 he was awarded the Templeton Foundation Prize for Progress in Religion. In 1992 he was made a Knight Commander with the Silver Star of the Order of St. Gregory the Great by the Vatican. In 1993 Mr. Niwano was awarded the Interfaith Medallion from the International Council of Christians and Jews. Fire in the Lotus (a Book by Daniel Montgomery) quotes that "no Buddhist leader in the World has become more widely known or showered with honours than him." [1]

Death and legacy

Nikkyo Niwano died on October 4, 1999. He was cremated and some of his ashes were placed in the Precious Stupa of the One Vehicle, a small stupa located on the grounds of the groups headquarters. He is remembered for his interfaith work and his calls for global peace and disarmament. While many people around the world regard him with the highest respect, some criticism occurred shortly after his death regarding the large fortune that he left behind, many claiming that this was un-Buddhist.[4]

References

External links

Preceded by
None
Director General Rissho Kosei-kai
March 5, 1938–March 28, 1943
Succeeded by
Himself as President
Preceded by
none
President of Rissho Kosei-kai
March 28, 1943–November 15, 1991
Succeeded by
Nichiko Niwano

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  • Nikkyo Niwano — Nikkyō Niwano (jap. 庭野日敬, Niwano Nikkyō, 1906–1999), war ein bekannter japanischer Buddhist. Er war Mitbegründer der Rissho Kosei Kai und wurde als Beobachter eingeladen, um am Zweiten Vatikanischen Konzil teilzunehmen. Niwano war zudem ein… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Nikkyō Niwano — (jap. 庭野日敬, Niwano Nikkyō; * 1906; † 1999) war ein japanischer Buddhist. Er war Mitbegründer der Rissho Kosei Kai und wurde als Beobachter eingeladen, um am Zweiten Vatikanischen Konzil teilzunehmen. Niwano war zudem ein Friedensaktivist. Seine… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Niwano — Nikkyō Niwano (jap. 庭野日敬, Niwano Nikkyō, 1906–1999), war ein bekannter japanischer Buddhist. Er war Mitbegründer der Rissho Kosei Kai und wurde als Beobachter eingeladen, um am Zweiten Vatikanischen Konzil teilzunehmen. Niwano war zudem ein… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Niwano Peace Prize — is given to honor and encourage those who are devoting themselves to interreligious cooperation in the cause of peace,and to make their achievements known. The Foundation hopes that the prize will further promote interreligious cooperation for… …   Wikipedia

  • Niwano-Friedenspreis — Der Niwano Friedenspreis ist eine mit umgerechnet 170.000 Euro dotierte Auszeichnung, die alljährlich von einem siebenköpfigen Komitee aus Buddhisten, Christen und Muslimen verliehen wird. Initiator der Niwano Peace Foundation mit Sitz in Tokio… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Nichiko Niwano — Rev. Niwano and Mrs. Niwano in 2008 Born March 20, 1938 Japan Nationality Japanese Occupation President of Rissho Kosei kai …   Wikipedia

  • Prix niwano de la paix — Le Prix Niwano de la paix est attribué tous les ans par la Fondation Niwano (Japon) à une personnalité ou à un groupe travaillant à la compréhension mutuelle et à la coopération entre les différentes cultures et religions à un niveau continental …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Prix Niwano de la paix — Le Prix Niwano de la paix est attribué tous les ans par la Fondation Niwano (Japon) à une personnalité ou à un groupe travaillant à la compréhension mutuelle et à la coopération entre les différentes cultures et religions à un niveau continental …   Wikipédia en Français

  • NIWANO, Nikkyo — (1906 )    joined the REIYUKAI where he was introduced to the LOTUS SUTRA and to the group counselling practice called Hz. Eventually he became dissatisfied with the attitude of the leader toward the LOTUS SUTRA and together with Mrs. Myoko… …   Concise dictionary of Religion

  • Risshō Kōsei Kai — (立正佼成会; until June 1960, 大日本立正交成会: Dai Nippon Risshō Kōsei Kai ) is a Japanese Buddhist lay movement founded in 1938 and an offshoot of the Nichiren Buddhist Reiyūkai Rissho Kosei kai was established on March 5, 1938, by Nikkyo Niwano and Myoko… …   Wikipedia

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